Car-coupling



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. THURMOND.

GAR- COUPLING.

No. 306,876. I Patented Oct. 21,1884.-

JJ LWTOR Wig/4W (No Model.)

W. H. THURMOND.

OAR GOUPLING. No. 306,876. Patented own, 1884.

Fv'y. 5..

W1 TWESSES 17v VEJVTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' Ursrra rarns a rear rea CAR-COUPLING.

IJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,876, dated October 21. 1884-.

(No model.)

the novelty consists in the construction, ar-' rangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The invention is designed as an improvement upon the device patented to me December 4, 1883, No. 289,729, and it is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section on the line :0 x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the gravital locking-plug; Fig. 4, a detail perspective of the locking-jaw. Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the draw-head in Fig. 2 in connection with an interchangeable or detachable mouth-piece, adapting the draw-head to a link-and-pin coupling; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of said detachable mouth-piece removed.

For convenience, I have shown but one draw-bar and attachments, and I will describe the invention accordingly; but it will be understood that another draw-bar of similar construction is contemplated.

The object of the invention is to produce an efficient car-coupling at small expense, and one which shall be simple in construction and operation, having few moving parts, and hence not liable to get out of operation, and to have the locking features operated by gravity-a power which is always in operation when the cars are in a position to be coupled.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the draw-bar, cast preferably in a single piece, with a longitudinal cavity and a slot, a above.

Between ears I) of the head B of the drawbar is pivoted a horizontally-oscillating coupbarthat is to say, the floor of its cavityis provided with two surfaces, a and a, inclined in the same direction, andan abutting shoulder, a This form corresponds with the lower surface of the thrust-bar F, the inclines f and f being adapted to ride up the inclines a and a when the thrust-bar F is thrust inward in the act of coupling, and the shoulder f 2 being adapted to abut against the shoulder a to limit its action when it gravitates behind the tail 0 of the coupling-jaw. Then the thrustbar F is in its highest position, the gravityplug D falls to its lowest position, and its rear abrupt side serves to hold the thrustbar locked in such highest position until it is released by the plug D having been forced up out of contact by the coupling-jaw.

In the patent to me hereinbet'ore mentioned the form of the coupling-jaw C was such that its inner corner, when the coupling was intact-that is to say, when the coupling was in operation-was just outside the path of the thrust-bar, and in case the said jaw was not forced to the full extent of its stroke, or in case of coupling on a curve, the said thrust-bar would be liable to catch against the corner of l the tail 0, and the required coupling would not be completed,because the thrust-bar would not have made its complete stroke and reached a position behind the coupling-jaw to lock the same. In the present invention I provide for such contingencies, and particularly adapt the device for coupling on a curve by cutting away or rabbeting the corner of the tail 0, as seen at 0, thus providing for the free movement of the thrust-bar, and a coupling may be effected upon the sharpest curve, even if the jaw has not been forced entirely homea matter liable to occur upon a curve. Upon this rabbet feature of the locking-j aw in its relation to the-thrust-bar, and upon the locking-plug D in its relation to both jaw and thrust-bar, I

base much of the importance and novelty of this invention.

A rock-shaft, G, is operated by a lever, H, to oscillate a bifurcated arm, I, the jaws of which embrace a pin, J, upon the thrust'bar, in substantially the manner in which similar parts were operated in the patent cited, and as these parts i'orin no important feature of this invention, further description will not be necessary.

It will be understood that the hool: c of one coupling-j aw strikes the tail 0 of the other,

and that the jaws are oscillated until the thrustbars gravitate into the rabbets 0, when the coupling is effectually made and locked.

\Vhen it is desired to uncouple, the lever H is manipulated properly to withdraw the thrust-bar against its gravity and up the inclines a and (0 until the plug D falls in front of the thrust-bar, and holds it thus elevated until the next coupling operation occurs, when thejaw, by bringing the inclines c" and (1 into contact, raises the plug D until the thrust-bar is liberated and gravitates into the rabbet 0. Thus the thrust-bar locks the jaw automatically, the plug locks the thrust-bar, and the jaw releases the thrust-bar by acting on the plum.

I provide for the employment of the drawbar with an ordinary link-and-pin coupling by removing the jaw O and substituting a removable mouth-piece, M, as shown, secured by the same pivot-pin or by another pin acting in the same holes. This mouth-piece M has an arm, m, which enters the cavity of the draw-bar, and has a general contour corresponding to that of the drawbar, as seen at m, to give an extended bearing between the parts.

The mouthpiece has an ordinary vertical aperture for a coupling-pin, and may be used with link coupling whenever occasion requires.

Vv hatI claim as new is 1. The combination, with the thrust-bar and its operating means, of the locking-jaw G, having part c, tail 0, and bevel c, and the gravital plug D, having bevel d, as set forth.

2. In combination with the draw bar A, having inclines a. a, and shoulder a", and with the pivoted jaw 0, having tail 0', with rabbet O, and bevel c, the thrust-bar F, having in clines ff and shoulder j, and the gravital plug D, having bevel d, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WI hLlAlI HARRISM 'lllUInllOND.

.Vitnesses:

ALEX. S. B1111), Jenn T. IiIoGIN'rY. 

